The MLB All-Star Break is about to end, which means that in the next few days, the hottest and most exciting baseball action will resume. It’s also the time when the chatter, predictions and the bets are off- what team will start the second half of the season refreshed and recharged? Who will wilt under pressure? And can the Houston Astros really sustain its amazing run to end the season as the winner?

These are now the questions that are floated that keep fans excited, and sports bettors thrilled while waiting for the second half of baseball action to start. The Houston Astros is a clear favorite, with a dozen players batting at least 150 times for this current season. And of this number, 10 of its players have scored an OPS+ of at least 109. Just how strong and predictable this team is this season? According to many sports watchers and experts, they are expected to win the AL West comfortably, with the second-placing Rangers too far to make a dent. Consider this- if the Astros start losing their games and Rangers start picking the wins, well both teams will have the same record by August 1!

The Latest from MLB – Astros Gets Another Win Over Twins, Building on Their First Half Success

If there are still rumblings and questions whether the Astros are not consistent, well the first game should clear all concerns. In the game that pits them against the Twins, the Astros showed why they are on top of the field, giving 12 players a chance on the plate, delivering 8 runs on the second which propelled them to a lead. The final score is 10-5, an impressive win in its opener last Friday at the Minute Maid Park.

The Dodgers also got another win, allowing them to extend their winning streak. Through the efforts of Yasiel Puig, the team came up with a 6-4 win over the Marlins to start the season. The latest win only solidified the standing of the Dodgers as the best team, after it set a record as one of the few teams to have achieved 60 wins before the All-Star break. With the win, it also ended the 3-game winning streak of Miami.

It Is Too Late to Place MLB Bets for these Teams?

We are in the second half of the season, and these two teams are showing the field why they are leading. And the sports betting sites all agree- the odds are in favor of the Astros and the leading MLB teams. And if you are looking to dip your fingers in MLB betting, it’s never too late to enjoy and explore the odds that are published on a regular basis. For example, before the game between Minnesota Twins, the Astros are clearly the favorite to win the opener. In one popular sports betting website, the team comes up as the -162 favorites to win the game over the Twins. This means that if you wager $162, you will end up winning $100. Also, the same trend happened for LA Dodgers, when it played Miami Marlins.

The Dodgers was the clear favorite ahead of the game. Many sports betting websites list Dodgers as the clear winner, and it’s listed as -157, up to -180. And based on the recent results submitted by both teams, the odds will hold, and these can help sports bettors who want to take advantage of the market. If you want to get involved, it’s never too late to start. You can always start with the MLB picks and betting offers that are published by leading newspapers and sports betting websites. These picks will help you decide what to bet, and the possible outcome of the games. The insider tips that are published online should provide you the information regarding games won, lost and the trends, which can be helpful, especially if you are a busy person who cannot follow the games in real time.

Picks and insider tips often review the last 5 or 10 games and predict the possible outcome of the match-up. Betting offers, on the other hand, can help you augment your betting bankroll. Some of the leading sports betting sites offer up to a 100-percent bonus, up to $500. Other sites advertise a 50-percent bonus, up to $2,500. Either way, these betting offers are like manna from heaven for beginners and regular bettors who want to extend their betting activities, without ruining the budget.

Clayton Richer is an MLB scribe from north of the border with a slight bias for the Toronto Blue Jays. Clayton has also been the shop-keeper at Baseball Hot Corner since the sites inception in 2012. Follow and interact with Clayton on Twitter @MLBHotCorner or @ClaytonRicher